It's not real!
It’s Not Real is the podcast that takes a scalpel to the stories we tell ourselves. Hosted by Dr Paul Harrison, consumer psychologist, academic, and media commentator, each episode unpacks the real evidence behind why we do what we do, how the world actually works, and the myths we cling to in order to make life a little easier. From marketing spin to social norms, from economic fictions to psychological blind spots, It’s Not Real cuts through the noise with sharp analysis, candid conversations, and a healthy dose of skepticism. Because sometimes, the things we believe… just aren’t real.
It's not real!
12: In the lap of luxury: Talking Shop
From the archives
What’s your favourite luxury item—Belgian chocolate, French champagne, one of those plain but very expensive English trench coats?
Paul Harrison and Kirsten Drysdale look at the psychology of expensive brands and why some of us are ‘peacocks’ displaying our pricey purchases and their brand names.
And if you can’t afford the real thing, does the imitation version provide the same satisfaction?